Bullying-The Victim

Our latest podcast has been uploaded.  It is the second in our series on bullying.  Be sure to check them both out on the right hand side of the page, or download them on iTunes.  We will have blog postings on Bullying coming shortly.

If you have any feedback, questions, comments, concerns, or show idea (including if you are interested in being a guest of the show) please contact us at ParentSharing@aol.com, at "Parent Sharing" on Facebook, or by commenting on this blog.

How Peers Influence our Children

There comes a time in every parent's life that they are no longer the center of their child's world.  Chiildren begin listening to what their peers are telling them and not what you are saying.  Being involved early on in helping your children with picking out friends can save you a lot of headaches when this time arrives.  In addition, I suggest that you meet your children's friends and if possible their parents.  This may give you some presence in your child's life at a time when they are doing everything they can to rebel against your beliefs and rules. 

Hope this gives you some peace of mind, the teen years will end and it does get a little better as they approach the driving years and you have control over the keys to the car.

Television and Movies Influence our Children

Often times we as parents are so busy that we will use t.v. or movies as a way of occupying our children.  I know that I did this many times when my children were young, just to keep them out of my hair when I had to get things done.  Today, we feel safe with the rating system and television stations that are promoted as "Kid Friendly" or the "Family Channel" that our children are watching age appropriate movies and shows.  In the past few months, I have seen several examples in the news that rattles my belief that these systems that are in place provide enough of a filter for our children.  I believe we need to monitor what are children are watching more closely when movies like "Fred the Movie" air on a kid friendly station.  This movie was about a teenage boy who appeared to be stalking a young girl that he liked.  In addition, he used many terms so close to swear words that we had to put on closed caption to make sure that they weren't swearing.  Also, the Katy Perry appearance that was scheduled to air on Sesame Street and was pulled because of parents' outcries. 

Having said this, I also feel it is important to not shelter our chldren too much from the things that go on in the real world because they will not be prepared to deal with them when they come up in their lives.  Difficult balance to find.  I believe that viewing these shows with your children may provide that balance.  Allowing you the opportunity to open those lines of communication on the tough issues.  You get to hear what they are thinking and they get to hear your views.